Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-275) and index

The production of speech -- Some typology: sameness and difference -- Making the form fit -- Underlying and surface representations -- Distinctive features -- Ordered rules -- A case study: the diminutive suffix in Dutch -- Levels of representation -- Representing tone -- Between the segment and the syllable -- Feature geometry -- Exploiting the feature tree -- Stress and feet -- Further constraining stress -- Phonology above the word

"Assuming little or no background knowledge, and using original examples and exercises, Understanding Phonology provides an introduction to the basics and presents a comprehensive survey of phonological theory. Starting from a phonological perspective, it gives students a solid understanding of the universal nature of phonological structure, while at the same time conveying a feel for the wide range of variation in the phonologies of individual languages. Using examples from a wide range of languages (including non-Indo-European ones) the book addresses subjects such as distinctive features, feature geometry, the mora, the skeletal tier, the syllable, tone, stress, the phonological word, prosodic phonology, and includes an introduction to the latest theories in phonology, notably Optimality Theory."--Jacket

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